Swinegate in Pennsylvania; The Other White Meat Takes a Beating

With ethnic tensions high, and senses of humor at an all time low in suburban Pennsylvania, the Philadelphia Phillies new AAA affiliate, the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (formerly the Ottawa Lynx), are mired in what can only be dubbed Swinegate. The mascot of the newly formed franchise, a pig (natch), was to be named by the fans. The adorable little rapscallion was to be dubbed "PorkChop," which apparently is a derogatory racial slur against Hispanics. This can surely be added to the "Who F'in Knew?" Department of Hypersensitivity, but we can probably expect Screamin' Stephen A. Smith to take up the cause right after he's pried Barry Bonds off the cross. The only derogatory use of the term "porkchop" that I was ever aware of was when it was being used to describe an officer of the law; a use, which can still be described as nothing short of hilarious. Alas, the IronPigs plan on thwarting the will of the people, and naming the pig after the Latin word for iron. A move which is sure to infuriate Latin speakers everywhere.